ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare to burn

1.1 Burn plan operations are identified for the type of burn required in accordance with organisational procedures and legislative requirements.

1.2 Contingency plan is developed based on local conditions at the time of burn and communicated to all personnel.

1.3 Permits are obtained in accordance with organisational procedures and legislative requirements.

1.4 Burn notifications and plans are issued to person/s or organisations in accordance with organisational procedures and legislative requirements.

1.5 Resource requirements are identified with reference to burn plan.

1.6 Control lines are specified and prepared in accordance with organisational procedures.

1.7 Required preparatory hazard mitigation and asset protection works identified in burn plan are completed.

1.8 Weather conditions are monitored.

2. Conduct burn

2.1 Day of burn notifications are issued.

2.2 Pre burn checks are conducted.

2.3 Resources are gathered and personnel briefed and deployed in accordance with burn plan.

2.4 Lightingtechniques and patterns are implemented in accordance with plan or organisational procedures.

2.5 Burning is monitored to ensure safety and operational changes are made as required.

2.6 Contingencies are implemented in accordance with prescribed burn plan as required.

2.7 Burn records are kept in accordance with organisational procedures.

2.8 Burn operations are concluded andburn security is implemented in accordance with organisational requirements.

2.9 Crews are debriefed and resources released from the burn.

2.10 Incidents are reported and investigated in accordance with organisational procedures.

3. Conduct post burn activities

3.1 Outcomes of the burn are assessed and reported.

3.2 Variations from the burn plan are reported in accordance with organisational procedures.

3.3 Restoration and rehabilitationworks are identified and/or carried out in accordance with organisational requirements.

3.4 Prescribed burn activities are recorded in accordance with the organisational procedures.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills

apply fuel sampling methods

conduct briefings and debriefings

establish control lines for prescribed burns

interpret a simple prescribed burn plan

interpret existing and forecast weather conditions

interpret fire behaviour conditions

monitor patrol activities

monitor the burn

plan for contingencies

use fire prediction tools

Required Knowledge

fire prediction tools

fuel sampling methods

ground ignition patterns and techniques

legislative and organisational authorisations required for conducting a burn

legislative and organisational policy and procedures for conducting a prescribed burn

procedures for monitoring prescribed burns and securing burn

resource requirements

safe work practices

seasonal restrictions on prescribed burns

types of prescribed burns

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

implement a simple burn plan for a designated area

conduct an effective operational briefing and debriefing

conduct a safe and effective burn, utilising the appropriate resources and recording actions taken

conclude activities once the burn is completed

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated in a range of actual and/or field-based workplace environments.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Evidence collected from undertaking a simple prescribed burn is required.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

simple prescribed burn plans

fire management plans

lighting equipment

suppression equipment

lighting and suppression crews

Method of assessment

In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook.

Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.

Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an agency-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:

direct observation

interviewing the candidate

journals and workplace documentation

third party reports from supervisors

written or oral questions

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Burn plan includes:

approval of the plan for the conduct of prescribed burning

map identifying the area to be burned

specifications and conditions under which the operation is to be conducted

Type of burn must

Include:

Simple prescribed burn, characterised by low risk, low intensity, small area, low potential impact on assets, completed in one shift and involves minimal variation of fuel and terrain

Contingency planning may include:

dealing with escapes

resource breakdowns

resource requirements

safety considerations (e.g. escape routes and safety zones)

special resources/secondary control lines

wind changes

Local conditions at the time of burn may include:

actual or anticipated changes in conditions

weather conditions (temperature, relative humidity, wind, atmospheric stability, drought index, weather forecasts, fire danger index)

Person/s or organisation/s may include :

people or organisations who

have an interest in adjacent land to which a burn could spread

have an interest in managing the consequences of a burn

have an interest in specific assets

have an interest in the area to be burned

may be concerned by evidence of a burn

Burn notifications may include:

verbal notification

written notification

Resources may include:

contingency resources

crews for control and suppression

crews for ground ignition

equipment and supplies

logistical support

other vehicles

tankers

Assets may include:

area of rare or sensitive flora and fauna

buildings and other property

camps or recreational areas

crops

cultural values

historic relics

machinery

plantations

research plots, reference areas

stock

utilities (power and telephone lines, water supply structures, communications towers)

Weather conditions must include:

relative humidity

temperature

wind

Lighting techniques and

patterns may include:

contour lighting

echelon

grid

line

multi-line

spot

Monitoring burn may include:

fire shape and spread

flame height

fuel moisture content

predictions

rate of spread

recording

safety considerations

smoke development

weather observation

wind speed and direction

Concluding operations and burn security may include:

black out

mitigating hazards for public safety e.g. checking trees for falling limbs

mop-up

patrolling burn area

reopening roads

Outcomes of the burn may include:

achievement of burn objectives

escapes

external impacts

levels of scorch

percentage of area burnt

Restoration and rehabilitation works may include:

restoring areas disturbed by machinery

revegetating control lines

repairing fences

revegetation of damaged areas

restoring vehicle track damage